God’s Already There

Some of these first few thoughts are not my own. They were sent to me from several different preachers and I don’t know all of them to give them credit.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

Before the Earth was ever formed, God was already there. He was already moving.

God was already at the altar on Mt. Moriah before Abraham ever started his journey with Isaac.

God was already in the ark before the flood ever happened, waiting there for Noah and his family.

God was already on the slave train when Joseph was sold, headed to Egypt. The Balm of Gilead was already there.

God was already in Babylon waiting on Daniel before he was ever thrown in a den of lions.

God was already in the fiery furnace, waiting on the Hebrew children.

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So what makes us think our tomorrows will be any different?

We traveled to Mississippi this past weekend for a couple of meetings. James had to work a little the morning we left. As he was away and I was trying to finish packing, I had to stop. I felt so overwhelmed and stressed and anxious. So tired.

So I just took my Bible out to the front porch, and sat there. Praying. I don’t have the strength for everything that I “know” is coming up this year. And that doesn’t even count the things I don’t know about. I’m not a good traveler. Road trips are physically hard for me and they can make me weary. I dreaded the trip. I love serving the Lord and the opportunities He’s given us. But sometimes, it just all weighs you down. It feels like we have 2 lives. The weight of our livelihood rests on our business. (I know it REALLY rests on God, but as humans, this is how we can think.) There are big decisions that have to be made. Hard ones. The world we live in is only getting harder to live in. But then the weight of eternity rests on us as we travel and try to encourage and help. Because if we don’t have the right heart and the right attitude, it’s all in vain. It’s easy to get a line up and just sing the same songs. Go through the motions. But that’s not what we want. We want God in us and working through us. That comes with its own set of problems because there is an enemy that wants to absolutely crush everything we try to do.

We are normal just like everyone else. And while you may not have a business or a ministry, I know you know what I mean. What it feels like. Burdens weigh us all down, no matter what they look like. They are all heavy.

As I thought about all that, the Lord led me to Psalm 61.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 61:1-3

‘Overwhelmed’ sometimes feels like an understatement. But, oh, how we need to be led to that Rock that is higher than our worries, our fears. Stronger than the weight of our burdens. Bigger than the scope of our problems.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 62:5-8

And so, I poured my heart out. All of it.

I had written a simple chorus a few weeks back. But I was stuck on the verses. You’d think I’d learn that sometimes, God has a plan in those moments when I get frustrated because I don’t have the words. And He did. He was already there on my front porch. He knew what my heart would be feeling. He saw the words that would be MY balm.

As I sat there, the words flowed straight from His heart to my paper.

Maybe you don’t have the strength for the journey ahead. Maybe each mile that you travel just fills you with dread. Maybe the burdens are weighing you down, maybe you just can’t figure it out…..

Maybe you’re scared of tomorrow and what it might bring. Maybe your heart has been shattered and you can’t feel a thing. Maybe the waiting has taken its toll, maybe you just can’t find rest for your soul….

God’s already moving. He’s already working. He’s already seen beyond the here and the now.

What you see as hopeless is part of His goodness, that He can bring beauty from ashes somehow.

When you carry the weight of tomorrow and all those burdens you can’t seem to bear –

He’s already there.

God is a refuge, a safe place to hide. Pour out your heart and trust Him all the time.

Tomorrow and what it might bring can be a heavy thing to carry. So don’t. Pour it out to Him.

You know what happened on our trip? God was already there. He had messages, fellowship, new friends, encouragement, and provision already waiting on us.

He always does. Getting to tomorrow might be difficult. So was the trip up the mountain. So was building the ark. So was being betrayed by your family. So was being thrown to the lions. So was facing a fiery furnace.

But there was already a ram. There was already an escape. There was already a balm. There was already protection. There was already deliverance.

God is a refuge for us. Selah.